Ventana Mountain Bikes USA 1999 El Conquistador De Montanas

Bike Setup:
Hanebrink LT-8 fork
Hope DH4 disks
ESP 9.0 SL shifters
ESP 9.0SL Woody rear
Shimano XTR front
Phil Wood rear hub
Hanebrink front hub
Sun Rhino Lite Rims

Summary:
We have been extremely happy with this tandem. We also have a Cannondale MT3000 and the difference that the rear suspension makes is incredible. My wife does not get the beating that she used to get on the Cannondale. The bike tracks very well. The bike climbs well it does everything well. The workmanship is second to none. I have surprised at what we can ride on this thing. Some of the other posts mention the price as a bad point and deduct a chilli for it but to get a bike of this quality it is easily worth the money. The other full suspension tandems out there are not any cheaper. If you are in the market for an off-road tandem, do your self a favor and check this one out. It is worth the money.

Strengths:
Super stiff, no noticeable frame flex. Rear suspension is awesome. This tandem absolutely rails

Weaknesses:
NONE

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale MT3000

Favorite Ride:
Turkey Mountain, technical single track

Bike Setup:
ZZYZX DH front fork, 6" travel
Magura Hyd. Brakes.
Sachs Grip shift.
8 Sp. XTR rear derail.
XTR front derail.
Hershey cranks.
Hershey front hub.
XTR rear hub.
Svarda Wheels
Syncros seat posts
Answer Hyperlite bars
WTB saddles

Summary:
This bike is really nice. Been riding in all sorts of terrain, its does everything well. They aren't cheap, but there really isn't anything else out there which even comes close. The high bottom brackets make it really nice in the rocky technical single track, you just plow through virtually everything. Descends very well. Climbs great. One point, don't use an XTR Ti. rear cassette. We actually broke two of these into several pieces. Use a steel LX cassette, not quite as good of a gear range, but it holds up much better.

Strengths:
Frame is very stiff, not flex at all. High bottom bracket clearence is wonderful. Rear suspension works well. Great handling.

Weaknesses:
Rear facing drop outs are a pain.
Tall standover.

Similar Products Used:
Trek and Erickson road tandems.

Bike Setup:
Manufactured by Ventana Mountain Bikes, USA
Oversize 6061-T6 straight gauge tubing
Wrap around headtube gusset
Precision CNC machined linkage
Two piece high aspect ratio rocker w/custom 17-4 stainless steel pivots
Fox Alps 5R air shock with adjustable rebound damping
Stratos FR4-T 100mm travel front coil over oil bath front suspension fork
Shimano XT Rapidfire 8 spd shifter pods
Hope O4 DH hydraulic disc brakes (185mm front & 165mm rear)
Shimano XT Front (M751 top pull, bottom swing) and XTR Rear (M952) Mega 9 Derailleurs
Shimano XTR 8 spd Cassette (12 x 32)
daVinci tandem crossover crankset
White industries chainrings (44/32/22)
Sachs PC-91 & PC-58 chains
Hope Bulb Tandem-specific disc hubs, 36h w/135mm rear spacing
Velocity Aeroheat AT Rims (laced 3x)
Tioga Factory DH Tires (2.1)
Speedplay Frog Pedal System
Cannondale M1000 & SPG Foam Comfort Saddles
Sigma Sports Targa Computer with wireless transmitter

Summary:
If you want to get serious about tandem off-road riding, you need to get this frame. There is nothing else out there to compare it to. This is the original F/S tandem and nothing else even comes close.

Strengths:
The man behind the bike, Sherwood Gibson, and his sincere passion for mountain bikes and more importantly, tandem mountain bikes. Design and fabrication of the rear suspension and its integration with the tandem frame. Flawless TIG welds & quality of construction throughout. Finish (Trans Red Metallic) is drop dead gorgeous (See photos at: http://home.flash.net/~livngood/Ventana/RedVentana/97VentanaECdM.html).

Weaknesses:
None thus far. It does take a little time to figure out how best to outfit the frame with regard to components & the fork to ensure it will allow the frame to operate at it's full potential.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale MT3000

Favorite Ride:

National Trail

Bike Setup:

White Bro's UD150 dual crown fork (6 travel) -- required some custom tuning
Hayes hydraulic brakes front & rear (requires some custom work)
Phil Wood hubs--a must in back
Wide riser bar for control of the weight
Titanium King headset for strength

Summary:
This bike is a blast to ride. It is a much better deal than the Santana full suspension tandem. I spent $6500 for a bike with better parts than the Santana which retails for $7500.I put Hayes hydraulic brakes front and rear. They stop our weight fast. I am very impressed with these brakes on the tandem. You need good brakes! However, I had to order extra long hydraulic lines and make some hose clamps to keep the hose from moving around too much.I use a White Brothers UD150 fork. It works great after some tuning. I had to put in the heaviest springs with the most preload. I then had to put in heavier oil and revalve the fork by disassembling the damper unit and reconfiguring it, as well as plugging some of the orifices with pins. Not recommended for the novice bike mechanic. But necessary to make the fork work with that much weight, and we don't weigh that much (150 lb captain and 115 lb stoker).Get a Phil Wood hub in back. It has the strongest freewheel mechanism available. Remember, you will double the torque on the hub. I blew out two Hugi hubs before I switched to the Phil. And Hugi's are supposed to be strong. Phil's are expensive, but nothing compares.The headtube is short, probably to keep standover height down, but this makes the frame weaker. However, it has a big gusset and the head tube-down tube junction. But for a little extra strength, I put in a titanium King headset. Note that the standover height is tall, especially with a 6 travel fork. But you will appreciate a long travel fork, because you can't pull up on the bars to ease impact like on a single.Enough babble, get one, it's fun. Four chili's. There isn't a better one out there, but it could be improved.

Strengths:

Flex free
Great suspension
Nice eccentric bb
Can fit 5 large water bottles

Weaknesses:

The wait to get one
Rear entry drop-outs are difficult to use
Heavy, but maybe required for stiffness

Similar Products Used:

None, just road tandems that suffered from flexy frames

Favorite Ride:

Any Dirt is Good Dirt

Bike Setup:

RS Boxxer
Race Face Cranks
XT/XTR 9-speed
Hope Hubs/Mavic D521 Rims 14/15

Summary:
Fun, fun, fun. Quite a bit different experience to do 18 inch drop-offs on a tandem vs. a single. We can't bottom the rear suspension! (but we've come close, 275 lb in shock). Just awesome. Handling is great. Boxxer is a good fork choice, except for the 20mm through axle hassle. The price you pay, I guess. If you are considering a Ventana, keep in mind this bike sits really high. Huge ground clearance means high standover. Captain is 5'8 with a 32 inch inseam, and the 15 front size is actually still a little high. And we both (Stoker is also 5'8/32) have the seatposts almost to the max lines. Size carefully. Top tube length is very good. Front derailleur must be top pull, bottom swing (high clamp). Front and rear BBs are different size. Eccentric BB is interesting design, and you must torque it pretty hard.
Paint is very durable. Rear dropouts are standard MTB 135mm, unusual for a tandem. Some say this is a problem because of the dish. The rear drops are a weird rear entry design. Tthe bottom line is: More fun than any other bike We've ever ridden in 25 years of riding!!!! Five chilis. Yes it costs some dough, but bag the Starbucks and the HBO and get the Honda instead of the Acura , and you'll save enough to ride one of these in no time....

Strengths:

Rear Suspension Doesn't Wag
Really Plush Ride
Lots Of Ground Clearance

Weaknesses:

-$$$$$
-I'm not crazy about the rear entry dropouts.

Similar Products Used:

Cannondale MT3000
Various Road Tandems